The Boundary Trails Health Centre was the benefactor of one of the first major donations by theKatie Cares Representatives of the organization presented the hospital with eighty KatieCares Bags Friday, each to be given to a child when they are admitted to the health care facility. The bags were the dream of the late Kaitlyn Reimer, founder of the Foundation, with each item included selected personally by her.

Kaitlyn’s mother Ruth was asked what it meant to her to get to this point with the fledgling charitable group that was started by her late daughter. Reimer was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 13, and shortly thereafter started the organization. She passed away in May of this year, but has inspired many in the area to believe in the Foundation’s motto of See it, Believe it, Achieve it.

“It means giving back, that’s what Kate wanted to do, she wanted to give back all of the time,” said Ruth after the presentation. “This is just a very hands on way of doing it. Her fingerprint is on every bag, because she designed every bag.”

Included in every bag is a stuffed animal, with the remaining items dependent on the age of the child but covering things like colouring books, crayons, toiletries, crosswords, and notebooks.

Ruth was asked why she and others continue to push forward in making the KatieCares dream a reality.

Helen Kinsman is the hospital’s liaison with the Foundation. “The hospital, it means to them, that they have something for children to do,” said Kinsman. “It passes the time when they are coming here for tests, and they are scared or anxious, it just helps them pass the time.”

Courtesy of pembinavalleyonline.com